Phantom Studios has filed a lawsuit against Kangana Ranaut’s upcoming film, Queen 2. The production company claims the sequel continues the original story without authorisation. Moreover, it is seeking INR 2.5 billion in damages.
According to Indian media reports, Phantom Studios first attempted to settle the dispute with JioStar. However, negotiations failed to produce an agreement, prompting the company to pursue legal action.
Dispute Focuses On Sequel Rights
The lawsuit centres on the rights to the 2013 film Queen. Phantom Films originally produced the critically acclaimed movie before the company dissolved in 2019.
Phantom Films was co-founded by Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Madhu Mantena, and Vikas Bahl. The company shut down following sexual misconduct allegations against Bahl during India’s #MeToo movement.
According to the lawsuit, Queen 2 is an unauthorised continuation of the original film. Therefore, Phantom Studios argues that the project infringes on its rights.
Original Film Became A Bollywood Classic
Released in 2013, Queen starred Kangana Ranaut as Rani, a woman who travels alone after her fiancé abandons her. The coming-of-age drama received widespread praise for its emotional storytelling and strong performances.
Kangana won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role. Additionally, the film achieved major commercial success and became one of Bollywood’s most celebrated productions.
Earlier this year, Kangana announced a sequel that reunites her with director Vikas Bahl. The new film is expected to continue Rani’s story nearly a decade later. However, neither Kangana nor the filmmakers have publicly responded to the lawsuit.
